The Best Travel Cards for Australians
I tested the travel money cards from Commbank, ANZ, Macquarie, Wise, Revolut, and Travelex by using them overseas. Then S Money compared their exchange rates, fees and services to 10 other cards available in Australia.
Planning your next international adventure from Australia? Choosing the right travel money card can make it easy to manage your finances abroad effectively. It will also help you get the most out of your travel money without paying too many fees.
In fact, according to a recent study by ING, Australians are losing an average of $92.62 in international transaction fees.
With the right travel money card in hand, you can easily make payments whilst traveling overseas. They make paying easier for shops, restaurants, hotels, and ATMs.
In this guide, we have compared travel money cards to help you make the best selection for your next trip.
Best travel cards to use overseas:
- Wise Travel Card - Exchange Rates Champ
- Revolut -Low Fee Travel Card
- Travelex Money Card - The All Rounder
- Bankwest Breeze Platinum - Best Travel Credit Card
- Pelikin Student Traveller Card - Good for Students
- HSBC Everyday Global Travel Card
- Qantas Travel Money Card - For the Reward Benefits
Wise Travel Card - Great Exchange Rates
- 40+ currencies available
- Best exchange rates globally
- One of the lowest conversion fee on the market
- No international transaction fees
- No annual or monthly fees
- Extremely low costs to send money overseas
Before I even left Australia, this was one of the easiest cards to apply for and set up. It was delivered in under a week and the app was simple to download.
I used it to pay for restaurants, a taxi and had no problem. You get notifications every time you use it and there is the ability to freeze the card on the app if you think you've been hacked.
When it comes to exchange rates - what you see is what you get. Wise use the market rate that matches up to be roughly what you see online and there are no hidden margins built in.
The fees are transparent and easy to understand.
The only annoying thing was the ATM limits. Particularly in countries like Japan where cash is more commonly used, the limits are just another fee that you have to be mindful of.
Key features
- Cross currency conversion fees are between 0.24–3.69%. AUD to USD, EUR or GBP was 0.42%, which is one of the lowest on the market
- Free cash withdrawals up to $350 every 30 days. However after that, Wise charge a fixed fee of $1.50 per transaction + 1.75%
- Daily ATM withdrawal is $2,700
- Issue up to 3 virtual cards for temporary usage
- It takes between 7 to 14 business days to receive your card
- Can be used wherever MasterCard is accepted
Revolut - Low Fees
- 30+ currencies available
- One of the best exchange rates globally
- No international transaction fees
- No annual or monthly fees for standard membership
- No initial card fee
- Instant access to a range of cryptocurrencies
The Revolut Travel Card was the only card that could come close to the exchange rates on offer by Wise.
The app was also really easy to use, but came with more features than I actually needed for an overseas trip.
The Standard Plan is more than enough for most people using it as a travel card. The other plans seem a touch expensive for what you get.
If you exchange currency on the weekend you can incur a one-percent mark-up fee. In addition, Revolut have introduced fees for international transfers. Outside of these two exceptions, the cards fee structure is one of the best in the Australian market.
For a more detailed look at it, check out our Revolut Card review for Australians.
Travelex Money Card - The All Rounder
Best Features
- Unlimited free ATM withdrawals
- 24/7 Emergency Assistance
- Initial and replacement card are free
- No international transaction fees
- Lock in up to 10 currencies
The Travelex Money Card was easier to buy than the Wise or Revolut cards, but the fees soon started to add up overseas.
The free wifi hotspots are handy, however, with a decent eSim, I didn't end up using that many of them.
You can use it to take money out of the ATM, for merchant purchases like restaurants and even for online shopping in foreign currency. While the exchange rates aren't as good as the Wise or Revolut cards abroad, the support network if the card is lost or stolen is very good.
Once I got back to Australia, I had to make sure there was almost nothing left on it given the closure and inactivity fees.
For a more detailed review of the Travelex Card, click here.
- Minimum load of $100 and maximum load of $100,000
- Can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted
- Fees include a $10 closure fee, $5 for an additional card and $4 inactivity monthly fee.
- While Travelex don't charge ATM fees, some ATM operators may charge their own fees.
- Currencies that can be loaded are AU$, US$, EU€, GB£, NZ$, TH฿, CA$, HK$, JP¥, SG$
- If your card is lost or stolen you can access cash in your account through Moneygram or Western Union agents, with no charge
- Boingo hotspots offer free wifi and you can look at their number of free hotspots per country on this map
Bankwest Breeze Platinum Credit Card
Best Features
- Lowest interest rate at 9.90%
- No international transaction fees on purchases
- 0% p.a. on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
- Up to 55 days interest free on purchases
- Low annual fee
- Complimentary international travel insurance
Bankwest Breeze Platinum Credit Card
- Free annual fee first year, then $69 annual fee
- 55 interest free days
- Free international travel insurance that includes the basics but does not cover cancellation costs, pre existing conditions and travellers over 80
- $6,000 minimum credit card
- 0% p.a. on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then reverts to 9.90%
- 21.99% interest rate on purchases and cash advances
- Cash advance fee of the higher of $4 or 2% of cash advance
- Can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted
The Bankwest Breeze Platinum is a great no frills credit card that offers ‘no foreign transaction fees’ and the lowest interest rate on the market, at 9.90%. These two factors alone will save you hundreds of dollars when travelling overseas.
In addition it has a low annual fee and complimentary international travel insurance. Finally for its price point it is a great value credit card that will be accepted most places around the world.
HSBC Everyday Global Debit Card
- No initial card or closure fees
- No monthly or account fees
- No international transaction fees
- No international ATM fees
- No cross currency conversion fees
- Lock in very competitive exchange rates before travel
- No maximum balance
- Earn 2% cashback
HSBC Everyday Global Debit Card
- 10 Currencies can be loaded are AUD, USD, GBP, EUR, HKD, CAD, JPY, NZD, SGD, CNY (currency restrictions apply to CNY)
- Awarded 5 gold stars by CANSTAR in 2021 for Outstanding Value
- Very competitive exchange rates on all currencies when you have currencies already loaded on your card
- ATMs within Australia need to be HSBC and overseas they need to display a VISA or VISA Plus logo, not be be charged fees
- Earn 2% cash back when you tap and pay with Visa pay wave, Apple Pay or Google Pay for purchases under $100. With a maximum of $50 cash back per month. In addition you need to deposit $2,000 or more into your Everyday Global Account each calendar month.
- Daily maximum ATM withdrawal is $2,000
- Fraud protection covered by Visa Zero Liability
- Can be used wherever Visa is accepted
The HSBC Everyday Global Debit Card is a good option to take travelling and to spend money in Australia with no international transaction fees, international ATM fees and monthly fees. In addition there is no maximum balance on currencies held and a 2% cash back incentive when you tap and pay under $100.
Finally it is one of the only travel cards that offers Chinese Yuan. To avoid ATM fees you need to find HSBC branches in Australia and only use ATMs overseas with a VISA or VISA Plus logo.
- Use promo code SMONEY10 for a $10 discount
- Up to 15% off international flights
- A globally accepted virtual student ID card
- 2% cash back on food & drinks, transport and accommodation
- Over 150,000 discounts worldwide
- Apple Pay
Pelikin Student Traveller Card
- Apple Pay
- $30 for 12 months
- 20+ currencies available
- Split bills, pay and get paid instantly
Pelikin is one of the only travel cards in Australia specifically for students. While it has a small annual fee, the range of discounts and offers more than make up for it.
The app is relatively easy to use and card arrives in under a week.
- No monthly fees, purchase fees and currency conversion fees
- No load fees if you pay by bank transfer or BPay
- Locked in exchange rates: 4%+ margin on exchange rates
- Earn 1.5 Qantas points for every AU$1 spent in foreign currency
Qantas Travel Money Card
- Can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted
- 10 currencies offered USD, GBP, EUR, THB, NZD, SGD, HKD, CAD, JPY, AED
- Free Australia ATM withdrawals
- 0.5% fee debit card reload fee
- ATM fees overseas (USD 1.95; GBP 1.25; EUR 1.50; THB 70; NZD 2.50; SGD 2.50; HKD 15.00; CAD 2.00; JPY 160; AED 6.50)
- Minload of $50 and max of $20,000
- Available to 16 year olds, has a lower age restriction than most credit cards (18 year olds)
Qantas Travel card is a great option to spend foreign currency overseas if you are already a loyal Qantas customer and use your frequent flyer points regularly on flights, accommodation or gifts. The fees are low, the exchange rate is average however the ATM fees are expensive and will easily add up.
Methodology
We used 6 of the cards overseas in variety of cases including ATMs, Apple Pay, purchases over the counter and tap and go.
Every card we tested was either a Visa or a Mastercard, so they were universally accepted in all locations. What really set some cards apart from others were the exchange rates, fees (particularly the ATM) and ease of use.
While the other fees are worth keeping an eye on, the ATM fee had the most impact on the overall cost of using the card.
When it came down to ease of use, we judged
- The ability to spend money in any currency
- The ability to spend money in any location
- The ability to spend money by any method
From these experiences, the data was then verified by the Product Disclosure Statement of each card which includes each point of comparison:
- Exchange rates
- Purchase Fee
- Overseas ATM fees
- Reload fee
- Cross Currency conversion fee
- Closure fee
- Minimum and maximum amounts
- Currencies available
- Services included such as ApplePay, online support and an app.
Editorial note: We may not cover every product in this category. For more information, see our Editorial guidelines.
How to pick the right travel card
When selecting a travel money card, several key features can affect your travel budget:
- Foreign Transaction Fees: Compare cards that offer low or waived foreign transaction fees to minimise costs when purchasing abroad.
- Exchange Rates and Currency Conversion Fees: Look for cards that provide competitive exchange rates and minimal currency conversion fees to maximise the value of your money.
- ATM Withdrawal Fees and Limits: Evaluate the cost and limits associated with ATM withdrawals overseas to avoid unnecessary fees.
- Additional Perks: Consider cards that offer supplementary benefits such as travel insurance, emergency assistance, and rewards programs, which can enhance your travel experience.
Other popular travel money cards
Aside of the travel money cards listed above, there are many more options to consider. These include well known brands such as the Commonwealth Bank and ANZ travel card and less known services like Up Bank and Bendigo Bank.
Here is a rundown of their best features, fees and available currencies:
Best Features
- 13 currencies available, including Vietnamese Dong and Chinese Yuan
- No issue fee, load fees, closure and card replacement fees
- Additional card offered
- Locked in exchange rates: 4%+ margin on exchange rates
- Can be accessed through Commonwealth Bank app
Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card
- Can be used wherever Visa is accepted
- $3.50 fee at ATMs overseas
- 13 currencies offered USD, GBP, EUR, THB, NZD, SGD, HKD, CAD, JPY, AED, AUD, VND & CNY
- Minload of $1 and max of $100,000
- Available to 14 year olds, has a lower age restriction than most credit cards (18 year olds)
- When you use your card for a purchase or withdrawal in a currency that is not loaded, or when they automatically transfer funds between the currencies on your card to enable the completion of the transaction at the Visa retail exchange rate plus 4%
- To transfer money between currencies or a transaction account, it will be at the bank rate which is normally 4% above the market value
The Commonwealth Bank travel money card is great if you are already a Commonwealth bank customer who banks online and knows exactly how much money in each country you want to spend. However if you need to transfer between currencies or make a purchase in a currency you don't have funds loaded, then you can get an additional expensive charge. Watch how many withdrawals at ATMs you make as well to keep the costs down.
Best Features
- Exchange rates most competitive for USD, GBP and THB
- No fee on initial card or load (not BPay)
- No fee on reloads via bank transfers
- No monthly or inactivity fees
- Card is valid for 5 years
Travel Money Oz Currency Pass
- 1.1% reloading fee via Travel Money Oz Login or with debit or credit card
- 1% reloading fee for BPay
- $10 closure fee and replacement card fee
- 2.95% on withdrawals from Australian ATMs is expensive
- Roughly $3.50 on withdrawals from overseas ATMs is expensive.
- $3.99 + 5.95% fee on cross currency transactions
- 10 Currencies can be loaded are USD, EUR, GBP, NZD, CAD, HKD, JPY, SGD, THB & AUD
- Can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted
- Exchange rates for SGD and CAD are the least competitive
- Minload of $20 and max of $10,000
- Only 1 card per account
- According to the website they won't take online orders if you are departing within 14 days as the card can take up to 2 weeks for delivery.
The Travel Money Oz travel money card seems to be an outdated version of the Travelex or Australia Post travel card as it does not offer Global Emergency Assistance or Boingo hotspots. However exchange rates and fees are similar to Travelex, so if you are travelling to the US, UK or Thailand, this is a great card to pay for accommodation and things in shops. We would avoid using it at any ATM, to save costs.
Best Features
- No ATM fees in Australia or internationally
- No international transaction fees
- No initial card fee
- No minimum monthly deposit
- No account keeping fees
- Can be used in Australia as an EFTPOS card
- Available to 14 year olds and older
Macquarie Travel Card
- $2,000 daily limit for ATM withdrawals
- Simple and easy to work out costs for account
- Exchange rates are MasterCard exchange rates, which are normally 4%+ market rate.
- 90-day theft and damage protection on eligible purchases and stolen wallet protection up to $500
- Can be used in Australia to buy goods overseas and not pay international transaction fees
- Get discounts of up to 10% on eGift cards to use at over 50 leading retailers
- Can be used wherever MasterCard is accepted
The Macquarie Travel Card is a very good option to take overseas for ATM withdrawals as they are all free. In addition in Australia you can buy goods online and not pay an international transaction fee. Furthermore you can use the card like a normal debit card in Australia with no hefty fees or monthly minimum deposits. However the exchange rate is the MasterCard rate which is normally 4%+ above the market rate. Finally we would recommend this card for cash withdrawals at ATMs internationally but not paying for accommodation due to the added margin on the MasterCard exchange rate.
Best Features
- No ATM fees in Australia or internationally
- No international transaction fees
- No initial card fee
- Cheapest way to send money overseas through a bank
- UI and UX better than traditional banks making it super easy to use
- Competitive savings interest rate
Up Bank Travel Card
- Backed by Bendigo Bank and Adelaide Bank and partnered with Wise so it has financial backing and access to the cheapest exchange rates to send money overseas
- Nifty online tools to help you track spending, budget and save. These include a detailed transaction history often including a company logo, when you paid down to the minute and the suburb where the transaction was made. In addition it has a ‘Regulars feature that detects regular billers and estimate of upcoming bills so you get a heads-up before they are due
- Exchange rates are MasterCard exchange rates, which are normally 4%+ market rate.
- Good savings account interest rates of 1.85% (0.10% base rate plus 1.75% bonus). Bonus interest is easily unlocked after making five successful card or digital wallet purchases each month
- Can be used wherever MasterCard is accepted
The Up Bank Travel Card is aimed at younger markets who are looking to save on bank costs and receive online tools to help them budget and save for their goals. It is also able to be used overseas at any ATM without fees, no international fees and is the cheapest way to send money overseas through a bank due to their partnership with Wise (the largest money transfer company in the world). In addition the exchange rates are Mastercard rates which are normally 4% above interest rates. Finally, while this card is very useful domestically and for ATMs overseas we would not recommend it for big ticket items overseas as it is an expensive card to use.
Best Features
- No foreign transaction fees
- No fee on initial card, load, unload or inactivity fees
- No cross currency transactions fees
- Lock in exchange rates before you leave
- Exchange rates most competitive for USD, GBP, EUR and CAD and JPY
- No ATM fee at 50,000 Global Alliance ATMs worldwide
- Free additional card
- Flight delay pass
Westpac Travel Money Card
- 11 Currencies can be loaded are USD, EUR, GBP, NZD, CAD, HKD, JPY, SGD, THB, AUD & ZAR
- $2,000 maximum limit on ATM withdrawals overseas within 24 hours
- $50,000 maximum limit on currencies loaded on to travel card
- $3 roughly for ATMs that are not within the Non Westpac Global Alliance
- If you run out of one currency on the card, you can pay with other currencies without the expensive cross currency transaction fee
- No foreign transaction fees, initial card, load, unload or inactivity fees
- Can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted
- According to the Westpac it can take upto 8 business days to receive the travel card
- Secure from fraudulent transactions with Mastercard Zero Liability protection
- 2 cards per account for free
The Westpac Travel Card is a no frills handy travel card with very low fees, no foreign transaction fees, access to some free ATMs worldwide and competitive exchange rates, especially on USD, EUR, GBP, CAD and JPY. In addition it has the South African Rand (ZAR) which is not common in prepaid travel cards. Finally it has access to a flight delay pass in case your flights are delayed and you need to access airport lounges.
Best Features
- No international transaction fees
- No initial card fee
- Linked to ANZ Rewards program
- 7 types of insurance for free
- 55 days interest free
- Good security on card purchases
ANZ Travel Adventure Card
- 20.24% interest on purchases and cash advances
- $120 annual fee
- No international transaction fees in person or online
- Offer 7 types of insurance for free
- ANZ Reward points can be used to buy gift cards, swap for Virgin or Singapore airline points or cash into your account.
- Earn 1.5 Reward points per $1 spent on eligible purchases up to $2,000 per statement period
- ATM fees at non ANZ ATMs
- Minimum credit of $6,000
If you utilize rewards points then the ANZ Travel Adventure Card might be suitable for you. Reward points can be used to buy a wide range of gift cards, swap for Virgin or Singapore airline points or cash into your account. In addition no international transaction fees are charged for purchases online or whilst you travel overseas. Finally this card is not recommended for cash withdrawals as the interest rate of 20.24% will eat up any savings.
Best Features
- No ATM fees
- No international transaction fees
- No initial card fee
- No account keeping fees
- Can be used in Australia with no additional costs
- No fees for paying via bank transfer or Bpay
- Transfer limits can be set by user
ING Orange Everyday Account Debit Card
- Simple and easy to work out costs for account
- As long as you you deposit at least $1000 and make at least 5 payments each month ING will waive international transaction fees and refund overseas ATM withdrawal fees
- Can be used in all countries
- Can be used in Australia to buy goods overseas and not pay international transaction fees
- Works with Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Can be used wherever Visa is accepted
- Visa currency conversion rates apply, which are normally 4% above market
The ING Orange Everyday Account Debit Card is a good card for most Australians travelling overseas for ATM access, with no fees. It also allows you to to buy goods online without an international transaction fee.
Furthermore you can use it in Australia for free and there are no fees to get your initial card, for account keeping or to top up your card. A word of caution however, if you travel overseas for longer than 1 month, you still need to deposit at least $1,000 and make at least 5 payments each month to get the rebates.
Best Features
- Initial card and replacement cards are free
- No fee on reloads via bank transfers
- No monthly or inactivity fees
- Increased protection with Mastercard Zero Liability
- Access to cash from your account through the Global Emergency Assistance, if your card is lost or stolen
Australia Post Travel Money Card - Platinum Mastercard
- 1.1% Admin fee for instore loads, including initial load
- $5 fee for reloads via debit bank card
- $10 closure fee
- 2.95% on withdrawals from Australian ATMs is expensive
- $3.50 on withdrawals from overseas ATM is expensive
- $3.99 + 5.95% fee on cross currency transactions
- Currencies that can be loaded are USD, EUR, GBP, NZD, THB, CAD, HKD, JPY, SGD, AED and AUD
- Can be used wherever Mastercard is accepted
- Minload of $100 and max of $100,000
- If your card is lost or stolen you can access cash that is in your account through Moneygram or Western Union agents, with no charge
- Boingo hotspots offer the free wifi and you can look at their number of free hotspots per country on this map
The Australia Post travel money card is a popular option for Australian travellers due to the convenience of stores. However we would recommend the Australia Post travel money card for paying in shops or accommodation as it is costly to withdraw cash from ATMS. As the Australia Post travel money card is fee heavy we recommend not making withdrawals at ATMs or making cross currency transactions to keep additional fees down.
Best Features
- Initial card and replacement cards are free
- Up to 11 currencies available
- No monthly or inactivity fees
- Manage your account and card online
- 24/7 global assistance
- Access to emergency cash
- Free additional card when ordered at time of purchase
- Can be used at millions of locations worldwide – wherever Mastercard purchase symbol is displayed
Greater Bank Cash Passport Platinum Mastercard
- $5 fee for reloads via debit bank card, FREE reloads via BPAY
- Admin fee of up to the greater of 1.1% of the load/reload amount or $15 for in-store purchases
- Debit card load fee 0.5% of the amount loaded, per Debit Card Load transaction
- Domestic ATM fee 2.95% of value Withdrawn
- International ATM fee USD 2.50, EUR2.50, GBP 2.00,NZD 3.50, THB80.00, CAD 3.50,HKD 18.00, JPY260.00, SGD3.50, AED 10.00, AUD 3.50
- Minimum load of AUD100 and a Maximum of AUD100,000
The Cash Passport is one of the most popular travel cards in the Australian market. With Greater Bank, you can purchase it online and at one of their branches, then download the app or use the website to manage your card. While the card may be useful for international purchases, be mindful when using an ATM both locally or overseas as the fees can add up if you are withdrawing money often.
Learn more about the Cash Passport Platinum Mastercard through Greater Bank.
FAQs
Only if the bank you already use, charges high international transaction fees. Unfortunately, that’s most Australians that bank with the big 4 banks.
For example, using your ING, Macquarie or Up Bank debit card overseas is not that much different to a specialised travel card. The effort to get a new card set up may not be worth it.
Alternatively, if you are losing 5% on the exchange rate and getting hit with high ATM fees from your local bank, then it’s definitely worth getting a travel card that isn’t issued by one of the large, retail banks.
The best travel card in Australia depends on its use, for ATM withdrawals it is ING Orange, for best exchange rates it is Wise Travel Card, the best credit card is Bankwest Breeze Platinum, for overall best card by a bank its HSBC Global and the best rewards card is the Qantas Travel card.
Macquarie, ING and Up are 3 banks in Australia that don’t charge international transaction fees.
The most straightforward way to avoid fees on each transaction is to bring cash with you. All you have to do is convert your Australian dollars to the foreign currency of the country or countries you plan to travel to.
You can convert your currency either online, and have your money delivered directly to you, or in-store.
Online money exchangers like S Money are often an easy and cheap way to buy foreign currency. You usually only pay a small fee and the currency exchange rate, no hidden fees!
A travel money card is safer than cash overseas and if you select a Wise travel card, it is the best exchange rate as well. Most places around the world accept MasterCard or Visa, so you should be able to pay for all your purchases by card.
Yes you can use all travel cards in Australia but you might choose not to due to the fees. ING, Macquarie, Up, Citibank are all good examples of travel money cards that do not charge for ATM withdrawals in Australia. However examples of travel money cards that charge $3.50 per Australian ATM withdrawal include Travelex, Australia Post and Travel Money Oz.
Both if you buy your cash from S Money and pay with a Wise card overseas, as they both use the exchange rate you see online and charge very low fees. However if you buy your foreign currency at the airport, you are paying top prices so using a card is cheaper.
There are many travel money cards that no longer exist but appear in search engine page results. Travel money cards that no longer exist include 7-11 Just Go, NAB Travel Money Card, Travelex Cash Passport, Australia Post Cash Passport, ANZ Travel Card, Westpac Global Currency Card and the Virgin Velocity Global Wallet program.
